AKAROA HORTICULTURAL, INDUSTRIAL AND PASTORAL EXHIBITION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 676, 5 January 1883, Page 2

AKAROA HORTICULTURAL, INDUSTRIAL AND PASTORAL EXHIBITION.

The result of the Exhibition is most satisfactory. The money taken at the door in the two days was about £34, as compared with £12 lait year, and as there have been a great m-xny 10s tickets sold in addition, there is little doubt that the committee are in a sound financial condilion. It need hardly be said that in our necessarily hurried notice, a few articles worthy of mention may not have been spoken of. Amongst those we have since noticed, we may mention a raw hide bridle, made by Mr Griffard. It is the same kind as that used in parts of South America, and is called a " gaucho" bridle. This one is splendidly worked, and we are told that they wear for an immense time, the plaited strands of hide, of which they are composed, being very stmng. The ' curious patchwork o£ Mrs Kearney's is aleo worthy of mention, and some pretty crewel work of Miss Tel ford, for which a prize was recommended by the judges. Some Indian brass and silver work, shown by Dr Singleton, was very fine, and there were doubtless many other beautiful things, whose owners must forgive us for having inadvertantly passed over. Speaking of the arrangement in the exhibits, we notice that in the horticultural classes the exhibits of each kind were arranged together on the second d,iy, as we suggested. Thw flowers were also better grouped, and the pictures, etc., properly hung up, so as to be displayed to the very best advantage. We must congratulate Mr Watkins, Mr Jolly, and Mr. A. Watkins on the appearance of the hall on the second day. The arrangements for the show of dairy produce will have to be altered next year, fiome of the exhibitors had been

afraid that the back room would not be visited. This, however, was not the case, the place beinjj crowded by of those interested. L'ne place wi.-s right enough, but the exhibits ought to be protected in some way, or else (which would ba a much better plan) there should be one or two ' members of the Farmers' Club in attend ance, to see that all was right. As it was, the cheeße was hacked about terribly, all who went round the room appearing to be seized with a frantic desire to scoop a piece out of each cheese with either knife or ringer. There is of course a natural desire to taste the prize cheese, and we think the winners might very well have a piece cut and given away, but it is very hard lines on those who have gone to considerable expense to exhibit and get no reward, to have their cheese made unfit for sale. The hall was not very well patronised on the afternoon of the second day, but still there were a good many who came to take a quiet iook, and they certainly had all the best of it, as they could see everything to the greatest advantage. The protest of Mr Giles of the German Biy school, with regard to the 4th stmdard prize in the Schoolmasters' Association prizes for exercise books, was of course referred to the judges Messrs Wilkins and Adams. The following is their report:— " " Akaroa, 2nd January, 1883. Me Mr Giles Protest. " Dear Sir.—We consider that in awarding the prize, to No 23 we have only acted in accordance with the printed schedule of prizes, viz., that excellence of writing was to be the point of superiority. In accordance therewith we adhere to our original award, but we concur with Mr Giles that in neatness , and arrangement No 135 is better than No 23. As there is an extra prize, we think the difficulty is overcome, as we unhesitatingly award it to No 135. — Yours, etc., "T. Adams. "W. D. Wilkins." In the former report the winner of the sth standard prizo was omitted, and the names of the schools were not given, we therefore publish an amended list:—sth standard, David Missen, German Bay Hide School; 4th, Sarah Warner, Wainui School; 4th (special), Alice Jones, German Bay Side School ; 3rd, Mary Ann Cullen, Akaroa School; 3rd, Emily Jones, German Bay Side School; 2nd, Annie McGregor, Akaroa School; 2nd, Louis Le Valliant, Robinson's Bay School. The Concert. The Hall looked very nice indeed when it was lighted, and the attendance at the concert was very large indeed, between th<-ee and four hundred being present. The gallery was seated, but below it was strictly a promenade affair. The room, however, was so crowded that there wae little chance of moving, and many people stood in neary the same place the whole evening, which we should think they found very tiring. The audience were, however, very good-natured and orderly, and the whole affair went off with an animation and spirit that was most satisfactory. The performance commenced with an overture, played l»y Messrs D.ily and L. Watkins on the cornet and piano. A vocal quartette, " The Swallows," followed. It was very fairly rendered by Messrs Smith, Billpns, and Jacobsim (2). Next came Sullivan's beautiful ballad, •' Let me Dream again," given with much taste and expression by Mrs Wilkins. Mr Northcote thon delighted everybody with that rattling comic song, "Over the Gar den Wall," which was vociferously redemanded. Mrs Morrison then sang " Jock o' Hazeldean " very sweetly. Mr Billens appeared to greater advantage as a soloist in "The Village Blacksmith" than we have yet heard him, the aong being evidently adapted for the display of his fine voice. Miss felford sang "To the Woods." The cornet and piano accompaniment was beautifully played by Messrs Daly and L. Watkins, The presentation of the Industrial prizes then took place. MrGarwood briefly addressed the audience, congratulating them on the complete success of the Exhibition, and His Worship the Mayor then introduced Mr Montgomery, who had been asked to distribute the prizes. Thai gentleman said he was delighted to see such a great attendance, but while congratulating committee and exhibitors on their success, he would spare them the infliction of a long speech, and content himself with expressing his pleasure. Mr Montgomery then presented the prizes, making a few brief remarks. It may here be mentioned that Miss Ethel Watkins won the prize for the greatest number of exhibits in the Industrial classes. When the distribution was over, Mr Montgomery said he was very glad to see that this year there had been a division of the prizes amongst the pupils of the Government schools. Last year pearly all had gone to one school, and the alteration showed how much more general competition had been in the schools. Before going on with the concert, he thought they should express their thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who had acted as judges. A vote of thanks to the judges was then carried with much applause. Mr Montgomery said there was one gentleman, who, as on previous years, had shown great zeal in the management of the Exhibition, so that gentleman deserved their heartiest thanks. He had much pleasure therefore in moving a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Stephen Watkins, the zealous Hon. Sec. of the Exhibition. This resolution was carried amidst great applause. Mr Garwood then came forward and said, that he thought there was; one other gentleman to whom their war.n thanks were due for the great interest he had taken. He alluded to Mr Montgomery. (Cheers.) He begged to move a hearty vote of thanks to that gentleman. Carried with great applause. The second part of the concert was then proceeded with. It commenced with an overture, played in a charmingly crisp manner by Messrs Daly and Northcote on the cornet and piano. A quartette, entitled " Annie Lee " was given with fair precision and good tone by Messrs Smith, Billens, and Jacobson (2). Sullivan's "Lost Chord "was the next number. The accompaniment, arranged for cornet, piano and harmonium, by Mr Daly, Mrs Morrison, and Mr L. Watkins, was excellently played, the air being sung by Mr Jacobson. Mr Smith who kindly took the place of Miss Armstrong, who was absent owing to illness in the family, sang one of the Bab Ballads in a very amusing way, and had to come back. Mr W. Jacobson sang a new song of Pinsuti's, " My Lady's Heart," with very great pathos and effect. Mrs Lelievre then gave that dear old Scotch melody, "Jessie the

" Flower of Dumblnne " with much effect, and it was vociferously redemandod, Another of Mr Northcote's spirited jjcoinic songs, which was, of course, encored, brought the programme to a close ; and " God Save the Queen " having been sung by the full strength of the company, the gathering dispersed. In conclusion, wo cannot help again remarking on the great zeal hown by Mr S. Watkins, Hon. Sec, Mr A. Watkins, and Mr Jolly. The major part of the work devolved on them from first to last, and they fulfilled their task wonderfully well, and must be as pleased as we are at the great success attending the Akaroa Exhibition of 1883.